DoD News

News Article

No TRICARE for Medicare-eligible Military Retirees

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 1996  Congress did not pass legislation enabling medicare-eligible military retirees to sign up for TRICARE.

An article said the Fiscal 1997 Defense Authorization Act authorized Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries to sign up for TRICARE. Instead, that act called for a plan which would detail a demonstration where military Medicare eligible beneficiaries could enroll in TRICARE.

DoD did submit a plan. However, Congress did not pass the legislation that would allow DoD and the Department of Health and Human Services to move forward with the demonstration.

Defense health affairs officials said the department remains committed to conducting a demonstration in which Medicare-eligible military retirees could enroll in the TRICARE Prime option.